WATER POLLUTION CONTROL RESEARCH SERES * X00SO ELD03/72
BIOTA OF FRESHWATER
ECOSYSTEMS
Identification
Manual
FRESHWATER
POLYCHAETES
(ANNELIDA)
OF NORTH
AMERICA
US, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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Biota of Freshwater Ecosystems
Identification Manual No. 4
FRESHWATER POLYCHAETES (ANNELIDA) OF NORTH AMERICA
by
Nancy Foster
Chairman, Department of Biology
Dunbarton College
Washington, D.C. 20008
for the
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Project # 18050 ELD
Contract # 14-12-894
March 1972
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $2.50
Stock Number 5501-0368
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11
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FOREWORD-
"Freshwater Polychaetes (Annelida) of Nortlh' America" is the
fourth of a series of i'dentification^mamuafe for selected
taxa of invertebrates occurring in freshwater systems. These
documents prepared by the Oceanography and Limnology Program,
Smithsonian Institution for the Environmental Protection Agency
will contribute toward improving the quality of the data upon
which environmental decisions are based.
Additional manuals will include, but not necessarily be lim-
ited to, freshwater representatives of the following groups:
amphipod crustaceans (Gammaridae), branchiuran crustaceans
(Argulus*), isopod crustaceans (Asellidae), decapod crayfish
crustaceans (Astacidae), leeches (Hirudinea), freshwater
planarians (Turbellaria), aquatic dryopoid beetles (Dryopoidea)
and freshwater clams (Sphaeriaces)...
111
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ABSTRACT
Eight species of freshwater polychaetes are re-
ported in the form of a key. Three families are
represented: Nereidae with six species;
Sabellidae with one species; Serpulidae with one
species. The key includes only those polychaetes
actually collected from freshwater and not those
reported to withstand low salinities under ex-
perimental laboratory situations. Collection
and preservation methods are discussed as well as
characters used in specific identification.
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CONTENTS
Section Page
I Introduction 1
Collecting and Preservation 3
Identification 3
II Species List and Ranges 5
III Key to the North American Freshwater Polychaeta 7
IV Acknowledgements 11
V References 13
VI Index to Scientific Names 15
VII
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FIGURES
Page
1 Taxonomic characters used in identification of North 2
American polychaetes .
2 Anterior end of Heroi-STella enigmatica, Manyunkia sp.eciosa, 7
Nereis limniaola.
3 Operculum of Meraierella enigmatiea . 8
4 Parapodia of Nereis succinea and N. lirmieola , 9
5 Parapodia of Laeonereis culveri and Namanereis hawaiiensis 3 10
tentacular cirri of Lycastoides alticola .
Vlll
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SECTION I
INTRODUCTION
It is obvious from the number of species represented in this key that
very little is known about North American freshwater polychaetes. The
number of freshwater species in the world is quite small when compared
with the vast number of marine species. There are several marine forms
which have penetrated brackish and fresh water but remain unable to breed
there while others have adapted sufficiently to remain for their entire
life span. Of the some 60 polychaete families, only seven have been re-
ported as having freshwater representatives. These are the Nereidae,
Nephthyidae, Lumbrineridae, Spionidae, Capitellidae, Ampharetidae, Sabel-
lidae and Serpulidae (Wesenberg-Lund, 1958) . Th.e largest number of fresh-
water species are of the families Nereidae and Sabellidae, the others hav-
ing fewer than five representatives. All freshwater representatives are
from well established marine families and have not required the establish-
ment of any taxon higher than genus. The Nereidae, with the largest number
of freshwater species, are known for their ability to withstand extreme
salinity changes and have been widely used as experimental animals in
salinity tolerance work. This paper is not concerned with those worms re-
ported to withstand fresh water in the laboratory,, but only with those
actually collected from fresh water. Some of the species included in this
paper are strictly freshwater forms while others are euryhaline.
Of the known freshwater species, the majority are from South America and
Asia with only a small proportion having been collected in North America.
There have been several papers dealing with freshwater polychaete species
and comprehensive surveys were made by Wesenberg-Lund (1958), Southern
(1921) and Stammer (1932). It is very probable that there are many more
species present and that our lack or knowledge is due to their small size
and to the scarcity of collections made with polychaetes in mind as well
as the scarcity of specialists willing to work with them. Eight species,
representing six genera are included in this paper. Several species are
in monotypic genera but the majority are in typical marine genera. The
species list in this paper includes three families: Nereidae with six
species; Sabellidae with one species; Serpulidae with one species.
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a
pg
Fig. 1. Taxonomic characters used in identification of North American
freshwater polychaetes. Nereidae a-f: a- Dorsal view anterior end with
proboscis everted; b- Uniramous parapodium; c- Biramous parapodium; d-
Pharynx, dorsal and ventral views; e- Spiniger; f- Falciger. Sabellidae
g-h: g- Capillary seta; h- Hook. Serpulidae i-j: i- Capillary seta; j-
Hook.
nt-notopodium; nr-neuropodium; Ig-ligules; ph-pharynx; j-jaw; pg-paragnath;
o-oral ring; m-maxillary ring.
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COLLECTING AND PRESERVATION
Freshwater species are collected in much the same manner as marine forms.
Those from shore areas and shallow water are collected with a shovel and
a fine sieve. The sediment is placed in the sieve, washed through and
the remaining animals then removed. Those from deeper water may be col-
lected by dredging or by the use of grab samplers the sediment from which
is then washed through a fine sieve.
Polychaetes should be initially preserved in 10% formalin and subsequent-
ly transferred to 70% ethyl alcohol. As usual, whenever possible obser-
vations should be made on the living animal noting such things as color-
ation, presence of eyes etc. as these may possibly change or disappear in
the preservatives.
IDENTIFICATION
Essentials for identification are a dissecting microscope, compound micro-
scope, micro-dissecting scissors, micro-forceps, slides and cover slips.
In some instances, fine needles are beneficial. Glycerin serves as a
satifactory temporary mounting medium and glycerin jelly for more perman-
ent mounts. If the setae and/or parapodia need to be examined, the para-
podia should be removed and viewed on a slide under the compound micro-
scope.
The following ds a discussion of characters used in the identification of
North American species. A nereid is a typical errant polychaete with a
well developed prostomium, sensory appendages and often with eyes (Fig.
la). The parapodia are also well developed and may be uniramous (Fig. Ib)
with one setigerous lobe or biramous (Fig. Ic) with two lobes. In bira-
mous parapodia the dorsal lobe is the notopodium and the ventral lobe the
neuropodium with the various subdivisions of these lobes referred to as
ligules (.see Fig. Ic) . The term setiger refers to any setae-bearing
segment. Nereids possess an eversible pharynx armed with jaws and coni-
cal projections called paragnaths {see Fig. Ic). The pharynx may also
be smooth or bear soft papillae. The arrangement of these paragnaths
and papillae is characteristic for each species and the pharynx is divid-
ed into two rings, the oral ring surrounding the mouth and the maxillary
ring where the jaws are inserted. These two rings are in turn subdivid-
ed into areas where the paragnaths are located. The areas are designated
by Roman numerals (Fig. Id). Setae are compound spinigers with thin,
tapering blades or falcigers with short blunt blades (Fig. le, f). In
the Sabellidae and Serpulidae, which are sedentary forms, the body is
divided into two regions with pronounced differences in the parapodia
and setae. Parapodia are reduced and not elaborately developed as in
the nereids. The setae are simple capillaries and hooks (Fig. Ig-j).
The anterior end is modified to form a branchial plume or crown which is
used for food getting and respiration (Fig. 2).
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SECTION II
SPECIES LIST AND RANGES
Nereidae
Laeonere-is oulveri (Webster, 1879). Eastern coast brackish water and
freshwater tributaries.
Lyoastoides altioola Johnson, 1903. Sierra Laguna, California; mountain
stream.
Ly cast ops-is Tuarmelineki Augener, 1933. West Florida coast brackish water
and freshwater tributaries.
Namanereis haaaiiensis (Johnson, 1903). Southern California freshwater
pond.
Nereis limnioola Johnson, 1903. Lake Merced, San Francisco, California
north to Coos Bay, Oregon.
Nereis suocinea Frey and Leuckart, 1847. Cosmopolitan east and west
coasts brackish to fresh water.
Sabellidae
Manyunkia speeiosa Leidy, 1858. Lake Erie; Lake Superior; Schuylkill
River Fairmont, Philadelphia; Egg Harbor River, New Jersey.
Serpulidae
Meroierella enigmatica Fauvel, 1922. Lake Merritt, Oakland, California;
tributaries, Gulf of Mexico. Fresh, brackish and marine waters.
The above distributions are limited to North America even though many
of the species are found in other parts of the world.
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SECTION III
KEY TO THE NORTH AMERICAN FRESHWATER POLYCHAETA
Anterior end of body modified to form branchial crown of
filaments surrounding the mouth (Fig. 2a, b). Prostomium
reduced. Parapodia reduced; with simple capillary setae
and hooks. Sedentary
Anterior end of body without branchial crown. Prostomium
well developed usually with eyes and sensory appendages
(Fig. 2c). Parapodia well developed; usually with compound
as well as simple setae. Errant
a
Fig. 2. a- MeYc-ievella eni.gmati.ea, lateral view anterior end;
b- Manyurikia speciosa, dorsal view anterior end; c- Nereis
lirmiaola, dorsal view anterior end.
2(1) Branchial crown with stalked operculum showing considerable
degree of variability (Fig. 3a-c). Thoracic region with
well defined collar (see Fig. 2a). With calcareous tube:
Mevcierella enigmatioa
Branchial crown without stalked operculum. Thorax lacking
collar (Fig. 2b). Tube membranous or sandy: Manyurikia speoiosa
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Fig. 3. Merc-ievella enigmatica: a- Dorsal view operculum; b- Dorso-
lateral view operculum; c- Lateral view operculum showing two indivi-
ual teeth.
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3(1) Eversible proboscis with few to many paragnaths on both max-
illary and oral rings. With prostomial eyes (Fig. 2c) 4
Eversible proboscis without paragnaths; with or without pa-
pillae. With or without prostomial eyes 5
4(3) Parapodia biramous; well developed. Posterior dorsal noto-
podial lobes much enlarged and often foliaceous (Fig. 4a) .
Proboscis area VI with 7-15 paragnaths; area V with 2-5.
Neuropodial falcigers only; with straight blades (Fig. 4b):
Nereis sucoi-nea
Parapodia biramous; well developed but without enlarged post-
erior notopodial lobe (Fig. 4c). Proboscis area VI with 3-4
small paragnaths; area V with none (see Fig. 2c). Neuro-
podial falcigers only; similar to those of N. suacinea:
Nereis lirm-ico'la
o
Fig. 4. a- Nereis succinea, anterior view posterior parapodium; b-
N. suacinea, posterior falciger; c- N. limnicola, posterior view
posterior parapodium.
5(3) Parapodia biramous; with number of lobes reduced in posterior
setigers (Fig. 5a-b). Proboscis with groups of soft papillae:
Laeonereis cutveri
Parapodia uniramous 6
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6(5) Prostomium not bilobed; without eyes. With 3 pairs of tenta-
cular cirri. Proboscis without papillae; with elevated
pads on dorsal side of basal ring: Lycastopsis hummelinaki-
Prostomium bilobed. With 4 pairs of tentacular cirri 7
7(6) With tentacular cirri generally uniform in length; short,
tapering. With eyes. Falcigers with long, smooth tips
(Fig. 5c): Namanereis hatiaiiensis
With tentacular cirri which appear articulated; not
uniform in length (Fig. 5d) . Without eyes: Lycastoi-des altioola
a
Fig. 5. a- Laeonere-Ls aulver-i, posterior view anterior parapodium; b-
L. culver"L, posterior view posterior parapodium; c- Namanereis hcaoaiiensis,
posterior falciger; d- Lycastoides altiaola, tentacular cirri.
10
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SECTION IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank the Smithsonian Institution, Division of Worms, for the
use of the polychaete collections.
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SECTION V
REFERENCES
* References not referred to in the text.
Augener, H. 1933. Susswasser Polychaeten von Bonaire. Zoo1ogi
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SECTION VI
INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES
altieola (Lyoastoides) 3 5,10
Qulveri (Laeonereis) 3 5,9,10
enigmati-ca (MeToierella) 3 5,7,8
hawai-iensis (Namanereis) 3 5,10
humme'Lino'ki (Lyaastopsis) , 5,10
LaeoneTe-is oulvevi, 5,9,10
lirm-Loola (Nereis), 5,6,9
Lyeastoides alticola, 5,10
Lysastopsis hummelinoki j 5,10
Manyurikia speciosa3 5 , 7
Meroierella enigmatioa, 5,7,8
Namanereis hccuaiiensis , 5,10
Nereidae, 3,5
Nereis lirmiaolaj 5,7,9
_ sueo-inea, 5,9
Sabellidae, 3,5
Serpulidae, 3,5
speoiosa (Manyurikia) 3 5,7
suooinea (Nereis )3 5,9
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SELECTED WATER
RESOURCES ABSTRACTS
INPUT TRANSACTION FORM
1. Report Wo.
J. Accession No.
w
4. Title BIOTA op FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS IDENTIFICATION MANUAL
NO. 4 Freshwater Polychaetes (Annelida) of North America,
7. Authoi(s)
Foster, N.
9. Organization Department of Biology,
Dunbarton College,
Washington, D. C.
12. Sponsoring Organization
15. Supplementary Notes
5. Report Date
6.
8. Performing Organization
Report No.
10. Project No.
18050 ELD
11. Contract!Grant No.
14-12-894
13. Type of Report and
Period Covered
16. Abstract
Eight species of freshwater polychaetes are reported in the form of
a key. Three families are represented: Nereidae with six species;
Sabellidae with one species; Serpulidae with one species. The key
includes only those polychaetes actually collected from freshwater
and not those reported to withstand low salinities under experimental
laboratory situations. Collection and preservation methods are dis-
cussed as well as characters used in specific identification.
17a. Descriptors
*Aquatic fauna, *Freshwater, Preservation, Distribution.
nb.identiners * identification Manual, illustrated Key, *Freshwater Polychaeta,
*Annelida, *North America, Species List, Collection.
17c. COWRR Field £ Group
10 A
18. Availability
n, Security Class.
(Report)
20. Security Class,
(Pige)
21. So. of
Pages
22. Price
Send To:
WATER RESOURCES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CENTER
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20240
Abstractor Nancy Foster
I institution Dunbarton Co 11 ege, Washington, D. C.
WRSIC 102 (REV. JUNE 1971)
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1972 O - 467-242
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